Between Rounds

Themmalab
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Sports
  • Updated Biweekly

Between Rounds: The podcast where fighters and coaches bring you closer to the action. Candid conversations, behind-the-scenes stories, and the grind that makes the glory. This is the voice of MMA, told between rounds.

  1. 7h ago

    Rick Little on Building TUF Champions, Sik-Jitsu & Fighter Relationships | Between Rounds #35

    Rick Little joins Between Rounds to break down how he built Sik-Jitsu from a Spokane garage with zero martial arts credentials into a gym that produced multiple Ultimate Fighter champions and cornered UFC titleholders. In this episode, Rick discusses:Garage Origins to UFC Gold: Starting a gym with no credentials on Division Street and having Michael Chiesa, Julianna Peña, and Sam Sicilia walk through the door during week one. Fighter Connections & Coaching Burden: The emotional weight, deep personal bonds, and sacrifices required to build fighters from scratch versus managing pre-established talent. Lessons From a Top Gun Dad: How his father’s career as an Air Force Top Gun pilot and Silver Star recipient shaped his own "BS meter" for evaluating combat sports, technique, and fight strategy. The Story of Lyle Beerbohm: The intense rise and career of Lyle Beerbohm, fighting through prison, raw instinct, and the mental battles that came with it. Raw Willpower vs. Technical Skill: Why heart, intensity, and the refusal to quit ultimately decide fights at the highest level. Between Rounds is brought to you by GRAASI. Use code BETWEENROUNDS for 15% off your order at graasi.com.

  2. Oct 13

    Phil & Ricky Migliarese Talk Old School BJJ, Growing Up in Philly, and Coaching | Between Rounds #34

    John Crouch is joined by Philadelphia BJJ OGs Phil and Ricky Migliarese! As 6th and 5th-degree Relson Gracie black belts, students of the legendary Steve Maxwell, and founders of Balance Studios, the Migliarese brothers have been in the trenches of East Coast BJJ and MMA since day one. In this episode, Phil and Ricky sit down with John to break down growing up and fighting in Philadelphia, their early days coming up under Steve Maxwell, and how Gracie Jiu-Jitsu evolved from street self-defense into modern sport grappling. They also dive into wild challenge matches from their early days, coaching top UFC fighters like Joe Pyfer, and their philosophy on parenting and life. 👊 Topics include:Training under Steve Maxwell and early Gracie Jiu-Jitsu history Growing up and street fighting in Philadelphia Street self-defense vs. modern sport BJJ rule sets Old school challenge matches and crazy gym stories Coaching UFC fighters, cornering Andrei Arlovski, and guiding the next generation Parenting, life lessons, and building thick skin through martial arts Between Rounds is brought to you by GRAASI. Use code BETWEENROUNDS for 15% off your order at graasi.com.

  3. Oct 6

    Ed Soares on Managing UFC Legends, Sinister Fighter Apparel, The Rise of LFA | Between Rounds 33

    Ed Soares on Managing UFC Legends, Launching Fighter Apparel, & The Rise of LFA | Between Rounds #33 YouTube DescriptionLFA CEO and founder Ed Soares joins Coach John Crouch on Episode 33 of Between Rounds! Ed breaks down his legendary career in combat sports, from building Sinister Clothing and designing iconic fighter gear to managing UFC Hall of Famers like Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida, and leading LFA into the world's premier MMA developmental organization. He shares behind-the-scenes stories on the iconic Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen fight, manufacturing Chuck Liddell's famous icicle shorts, overcoming life's biggest hurdles, how the LFA merger came together, and his philosophy on long-term success in the fight business. Between Rounds is brought to you by GRAASI. Use code BETWEENROUNDS for 15% off your order at graasi.com! #BetweenRounds #EdSoares #LFA #UFC #MMA #SinisterClothing #AndersonSilva #JohnCrouch

  4. Sep 29

    Keith Hagen on Video Game World Champion, BJJ Black Belt & Extreme Cliff Jumping | Between Rounds 32

    This episode of Between Rounds is brought to you by GRAASI Organic Barley Water! Head over to graasi.com and use code BETWEENROUNDS at checkout for 15% off your order Coach John Crouch sits down with long-time MMA Lab Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Keith Hagen. From winning world championships in Gears of War on Xbox Live as a 20-year-old phenom to getting tapped out by Maria Henderson in his first BJJ class, Keith shares his incredible journey through competitive gaming, martial arts, and extreme adrenaline sports. Keith opens up about: The Esports Golden Era: Quitting his job at Circuit City at age 18 to join team Infinity, representing Team USA at World Cyber Games (WCG) 2007 in Seattle, winning Major League Gaming (MLG) Las Vegas, and pulling off one of the biggest clutch plays in competitive Gears of War history against Nickmercs.Martial Arts & Early Days at The MMA Lab: Kicking legendary American kickboxer Rick Rufus in the ankle bone by accident, getting a low-kick clinic from Benson Henderson, and navigating 17 years at the Lab.Extreme Cliff Jumping & Adrenaline: Discovering his passion for cliff jumping and death diving ("dödsing") in Arizona hotspots like Bell Trail/Beaver Creek, Fossil Creek, and Grasshopper Point, as well as Oahu's Waimea Bay. • • Mindset & Longevity: Overcoming the fear of failure, entering the flow state at 100-foot cliff jumps, and passing down life lessons on and off the mat

  5. Sep 22

    Burt Watson On Joe Frazier, Backstage UFC Stories, & The Golden Era Of MMA | Between Rounds #31

    Legendary fight coordinator Burt Watson joins Between Rounds to tell his incredible story in combat sports. From his early days working with heavyweight icon Joe Frazier and traveling the world with Muhammad Ali on the Champions Forever tour, to becoming the iconic voice behind the scenes during the golden age of the UFC—Burt breaks it all down. He reflects on his time working alongside Dana White, his approach to protecting fighters, meeting Nelson Mandela, and how he created his famous "We rolling!" battle cry. This episode is brought to you by Graasi! Fuel up with organic barley water to keep your hydration on point. Use code BETWEENROUNDS at checkout for a deal on your order.

  6. Sep 15

    Pat Hardy Talks Early Jiu-Jitsu, Royce Gracie, and Texas Punishment Crew | Between Rounds #30

    Between Rounds is brought to you by GRAASI. Use code BETWEENROUNDS for 15% off your order at graasi.com. On this episode of Between Rounds, John sits down with martial arts legend Pat Hardy—the first-ever Royce Gracie black belt, Vietnam veteran, former kickboxing champion, and criminal investigator. Pat shares incredible stories from his early days learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, including watching the original Gracie in Action tapes featuring Rickson Gracie and Zulu, and traveling to the Gracie Academy in Torrance. He breaks down his close friendship with Royce Gracie—including a wild story about getting stopped by game wardens in Texas—and reflects on the major differences between modern tournament BJJ and traditional Helio Gracie self-defense. The conversation also covers Pat's long career in law enforcement and martial arts, from winning the 1997 mainland national championship to building a 33-year legacy with his school, Texas Punishment Crew, alongside the Ebarb family. Pat also opens up about his tough childhood, the life lessons that shaped his coaching philosophy, and his experiences training with early BJJ figures like Steve Maxwell, Phil Migliarese, and John Burke.

  7. Sep 1

    Urijah Faber On Building A Legacy, Championship Mindset, & The Evolution Of MMA | Between Rounds 29

    MMA legend and Hall of Famer Urijah "The California Kid" Faber joins Between Rounds for Episode 29! In this episode, Faber reflects on his iconic career, from pioneering the lighter weight classes during the legendary WEC era to battling inside the UFC Octagon. He dives deep into what it takes to build a championship mindset, the lessons learned from founding Team Alpha Male, and how fighting has evolved both inside the cage and behind the scenes. Plus, Urijah shares his insider perspective on fixing the regional MMA pipeline and building a lasting legacy in combat sports. #MMA #UFC #UrijahFaber #TeamAlphaMale #BetweenRounds #WEC #MMAJournalism

  8. Aug 18

    Robert Drysdale On The Real History of BJJ, Carlson Gracie, & BJJ’s Biggest Myths | Between Rounds 28

    ADCC champion, BJJ world champion, coach, author, and historian Robert Drysdale joins John Crouch for Episode 28 of Between Rounds.Drysdale takes a deep dive into the history of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and challenges some of the stories that have been repeated for generations. He explains why he believes modern BJJ is much younger than most people think, how a 1975 rule set helped create the ground focused sport we recognize today, and why Carlson Gracie may be the most important and underappreciated figure in the development of modern Jiu Jitsu.Robert also breaks down the roles of Helio, Rorion, Royce, Rickson, Maeda, and other legendary figures, discusses the relationship between Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and shares stories of forgotten Vale Tudo pioneers like Euclydes Pereira, Ivan Gomes, and Waldemar Santana. He also explains why researching the history has forced him to question long accepted narratives and why he believes you cannot simply trust what you read online.The conversation eventually turns to Robert’s own career as an elite competitor and MMA fighter, the intense fear he experienced before competing, what he learned from training and coaching in Las Vegas, and why trust, loyalty, and team culture can matter more than having the most talented individuals in the room.👊 **Topics include:**• The real origins of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu• Why Robert believes modern BJJ took shape in 1975• Carlson Gracie’s overlooked impact on Jiu Jitsu• Helio Gracie and the myths surrounding his story• How Rorion Gracie and Royce Gracie changed martial arts forever• Royce Gracie vs. Rickson Gracie’s competitive legacies• BJJ’s connection to Judo and Mitsuyo Maeda• Forgotten Vale Tudo legends like Euclydes Pereira and Ivan Gomes• Why Robert questions accepted Jiu Jitsu history• Social media, AI, and misinformation• Robert’s fear and anxiety before competition• His ADCC and MMA career• Why great fighters need coaches they truly trust• The importance of culture and loyalty inside a fight team• Robert’s philosophy on coaching and developing athletesSubscribe to Between Rounds for more conversations with the fighters, coaches, and personalities who have shaped combat sports.#RobertDrysdale #BJJ #BrazilianJiuJitsu #JiuJitsu #CarlsonGracie #GracieJiuJitsu #ADCC #MMA #UFC #ValeTudo #BetweenRounds

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About

Between Rounds: The podcast where fighters and coaches bring you closer to the action. Candid conversations, behind-the-scenes stories, and the grind that makes the glory. This is the voice of MMA, told between rounds.

Information

  • Creator
    Themmalab
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Themmalab
  • Show Website
    Between Rounds

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